Automobile-starter.



O. L. JOHNSTON.

AUTOMOBILE STARTER. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14, 1911.

1,052,827, r Patentd Feb. 11,1913;

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

hwy/3M: S.

c. L. JOHNSTON. AUTOMOBILE STARTER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14, 1911.

Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

G. L. JOHNSTON. AUTOMOBILE STARTER.

APPILIGA'I'ION IlLED- JUNE 14,1911.

Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

5 m. w y z m M a CLARENCE L. JOHNSTON, OF BERKELEY, CALTFORNIAF ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T STANDARD MOTOR STARTER COMPANY, OF SAN FRAN- CISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATIQN OF CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMOBILE-STARTER.

Application filed June 14,

T 0 all whom, it may concern Be it known that I, CLARENCE L. JOHN- s'roN, a citizen of the United States,-residing at Berkeley, in the county of Alameda and State of Galifornia, have invent-.

ed certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile-Starters, of which the folloW- ing is a specification;

My invention relates tothat class of de- -vices and apparatus for starting explosive engines, which from their special use have i cometo beknown as automobile starters.

The object of my invention is to provide anefficient device for this purpose; and to this end it consists in the novel constructions', arrangements and combinations which.

Ishall hereinafter fully. describe and claim, by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure. l is an elevation of my' device showing'the general assemblage of parts.

' -Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the air-engine. Fig.3 is a vertical section of the .same, the lower interior: parts being omit:

ted. Fig. 4 is a view, looking into onehalf of the engine casing, one of the cy'l-.

inders being in section and theothers. in

elevation. Fig. 5 is a gdetail elevation, en-

larged, of "the connection of the piston rods -with the crank, the front ring being re-- moved. Fig. 6 is .a -section of the two rings,

; showing'the rods and heads in elevation.

Fig. ,7 is a view looking into one-half of the engine casing, the cylinders being removed,

in. order to show the various passages and;

- ports on the inner sideof said casing. Fig

8 is a vertical sectional view of one-of the cylinders, and of the rings inwhich the cylinder is pivotally-mounted by its trur'inions.

Fig. 9 is a top view of the cylinder of- Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a frontfelevation, enlarged, of the controlling valve and its seat-.

disk, the ports being shown in position when v the" air engine is to be used as a motor. Fig. llis a vertical section of the valve and its seat-disk, showing the valvein the posi- .tion for utilizing the air-engine as a' compress or. Fig. 12 is a front elevation of the seatdisk of Fig. 10, but with the valve removed. Fig. 13. is a front view of the. con

Specification of Letters Patent.

1911. Serial No. 633,051.

Patented Feb. :11, 1913.

trolling valve.' Fig. '14 is a section' of the same. 'Fig. 15 is a back view of said valve.

' It will be well, at thfiutset, to state that i Referring to Fig. 1, the numeral 1 in-' dicates the compressed' air tank. 2 is the casing of the air-engine. 3 is the shaft of the explosive. engine or automobile motor tobe started. I have not" deemed it necessary to show any portion of an automobile, nor to indicate supports for the device','as these are matterswhich are wellunderstood. It issuflicient to designate 3 as the shaft of .the' ordinary gasolene. motor ofan automo .bile. The connection of .the starting device Withthe shaft 3, "is made by agar 4 on saidshaft which mesheswith a gear-5 on a clutch shaft 6. The connection between'the air-engine and the tank 1 is formed (by the pipe 7'. The-casing 2 of the air-engine is composed of [similar halves, united by bolts 8. The casing is a three-winged one, as seen in Figs. 2 and 4., In each wing is mounteda cylinder 9, by a pivotal 'connection adapting it to swing. Thisconnection .is formedby the "trunnions- 10 extending from opposite sides of the cylinder, which trunnions are journ'aled in rings 11,.let into the casing. 12-is the air-engine shaft, and

13fis its crank. Within each 'cylinder 9 is a piston 14:, the rod 15 of which is connected with the crank13. On the inner face of each half ofthe casing2 are formed passages 16 which 'are'best seen-in Fig. 7.

These passages are three-branched and radiate from a common center at 17. At their outer extremitieslS they encircle the rings 11 in which the trunnions 10 of, the cy1inder 9, are mounted; and in the case of the Y uppermost branch, and on one side only, (the i htside of -3) .the'encircling passage; 18 opens .up in o a cross passage 19 which passes over to the seat of the controlling valve as is shown in Figi;.-;3:;I ,;In the 'trunnions of the cylinders isj'a' passage which opens out through a port 21 in the npper'surface of the trunnion. In the ring 11, on one side, is made a port 22, with' which'the port'21 in the trunnion on that side is adapted to coincide by the oseilla-" tion of the cylinder. In the ring 11 on the otherside is made a port 23 with which the port 21 of the trunnion on the other side is adapted to aline. The ports 22 and'23 Kin thering 11 are out of line with each other, as is shown in Fig. 9, from which it follows, that the cylinder cavity will beopengtothe port 22 when the cylinder is.

swinging in one direction, and will 'be open to the port 23 when it is swinging in. the other direction. The ring ports 22 and 23. thus open into the encircling passages 18 2oyat'the extremities of the branch passages 16,

as-s e in F i'g; 7; and it is to be noted that the port 22, in the top encircling passage, is

I that which leads intothe cross passage 19. Bolted toone side of the uppermost wing-or branch ofthe casing 2 is the seat-disk 24 for the controlling valve 25, which latter is held to its-place by a cap plate 26. The seat disk 24,.as best seenin Figs. 11 and 12,

i has. in its upper. part a passage 27, which at its' upper end communicates backward, as shown in Fig. 3, with the cross passage 19, and at its lower end it opens forward into one end'of a curved passage 28 in the inner face of-the valve 25, which passage, whenthe valve is-turned as would be indicated by the dotted lines in Fig: 12' c01'nmunicates at'its-other end withfthe inner end 29 of a passage 30 in the seat-disk,'which said passage 30 opens to the outer atmosphere, as is shown in Fig. 1. v

It will'be well, at this pointftqtracethe .intake of the air when the-air-engine is opcrating asa compressor; or pump',fbeing the 'topcross passage 19, and thence, being distributed-through the casing passages 18,

' 16 and 17 "of one side, will-enter any of the intake-ringports 22, which is then open,- and will'pass through said port and through the trunnion port 21 and trunnion passage 20, into: the cylinder.

In the seat-disk 24 is made a lower passage 31 which at its top communicates with a port 32 passing through the valve 25.- Thisport 32 is exposed at its outer end to a passage '33 in the cap plate .26, and said passage connects with the pipe 7 to the tank 1. In the lower portion of the lower-pas sage 31 of the seat-disk is a check valve 34,

witha spring 35, which controls a direct,

communication 34ihetween said passage 31 and of thefl'branches of the passage 16 on theiadjacent side of the casing, as is shown in Fig. 3. r

he course'of the air on the compression stroke of the piston may now be traced.

The air will pass from thecylinder throu h its trunnion passage 20 and port 21 on t e sideopposite from the intake and will flow out through the outlet port "23 of the ring 11, and into the encircling passage 18 of the branch passage system 16 on the left side of the casing in Fig. 3. From one of these branches 16, the air will pass through the check valve 34 into the'lower passage 31 32 in the'va'lve 25, and thence through the passage 33 intothepipe 7 of the tankl.

I have thus far described the air-engine in its function as'a pump or comp'ressor. I will" -now POlIlliflOllh its operation as a motor driven by the air it has previously compressed. v

3 v The controlling valve 25 has formed in its inner face .a curved passage 36, which at one end opens into the through port 32-.- When the valve 25 is turned to the position shown in Fig. 10, the other end of the passage 36- will communicate with the lower end of the upper passage-27 in the seat-disk 24. In

this position of the valve 25, the other pas-' sage 28 of said valve will connect the upper end of the lower passage. 31 of the seat-disk with the inner end 29 of the atmosphere passage 30. It will now be seen that the course of the'air is reversed,,thus:The pressure from the tank 1 will be through pipe 7, pasupper passage 27 in the seat-disk, cross passage 19,oasing passages 18, 16, 17 on oneside, intake ring ports 22, trunnion port and passage 21 and. 20 into the cylinders to drive exhaust is back. through the trunnion passage and port on the other side, outlet ring ports 23,- casing passages 18, 16, 17 on the.

other side, check valve, 34, lower passage 31 of the seat-disk, valve passage 28 and atmos-- phere passage 30. p

The constructions necessary to adapt this dual functioned engine toits use as an automobile starter-will now be described.-

36' is a casing which inclosesthe clutch mechanism for throwing. the air-engine into and out of connection with the shaft 3 of .the automobile motor. -The clutch shaft 6 and the air-engine shaft 12 extend into this The clutch between the twois a friction one,

and is ,made as follows: Secured upon the projecting end of the shaft 12 is adisk 37 sage 33, valve-port 32, valve passage 36,

their pistons on their forward stroke. The

casing and are alined, as shown in Fig. 3. I

.to-theface of which is'se'cured'by a periphso of the seatjwdisk24l From the upper end of f this passage, it will flow through the port erail clamp 38, a diaphragm 39 of leather or other suitable friction-material. Upon the clutch shaft 6 is carried.,a clutch disk 40. Whenthe disk 40 and the diaphragm39 are forced into contact, t-heshafts 12 and 6 are connected, and power is transmitted to or from the air-engine and the automobile motor. Now, in order to initiate "the operation of the apparatus, that is to say, when there is no air at all in the tank 1, I provide means for a manual operation of the clutch. These until its disk 40 engages the friction dia-,

phragm 39. The automobile motor being then cranked by hand in the ordinary manner, the air engine will act as a compressor the hand device 42 is operated torelease the and supply the tank 1. When'this is done,

clutch and the device is then ready for use as a starter, and is, thereafter, automatic, as

follows: The controlling valve 25 i's-mount ed upon a shaft 44, the outer end of which has a' handle 45 from which suitable'con nections may be supposed to extend to with in convenient reach of the operator. 'When,

through this handle45 .the valve 25. is moved to the position shown in Fig. 10, the'way is opened for the 'operation of the air-engine as a motor to positively turn the shaft 3 and start the explosive engine. At the sameinstant, however, the clutch between the shafts 12 and 6is effected as follows: In the valve chamber communicates with a radial hole 25 is made a small port 46, which is open atits outer end to the passage 33 in thecap plate 26. ;At its inner end it is adapted when' the valve is thrown to the position of Fig. 10, .to coincide with a short. passage47 in the se'at-disk'24. This passage connects with .a downwardly extending passage 48, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, formed on the inside, of one'of the casing sections. The lower end of this passage 48 connects with a passage 49, which leads to an annular chamber 50,"formed by washers 51 compressed between the end of the shaft .12 and a surrounding box 52, as seen in Fig; 3. The

53 in the shaft 12,'which hole leads to a passage 54, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

v This passage 54 extends through the shaft I 12 and its crank 13, and to the other end of I pressure is also admitted through the port 46, passages 47,48 and 49, chamber 50, hole 53 and passage 54 -to force oup the dia-' phragm against the clutch disk 40, and complete the clutch. As soon as the automobile motor is started, the operator throws the valve 25 to .the other position, whichis that indicated in Fig. 11", and is also that indicated-by the dotted lines of the passages 28 and 36 in Fig. 12, so that the air engine begins to act as a compressor, driven by the automobile motor, and this results in 're- 'plenishing the compressed air tank. In order to thus change from one function to' the othercontinuously, the clutch must remain in effect. This is possible by the trapping ofthe pressure inthe passage 54, which pressure acts against the diaphragm 39, and'this trapping is done by the move- 8.0

ment ofzthe valve 25 over to the position last described, which results in carrying the smallport'46 away from its communications' as is indicated by the dotted lines in Figs 12 Finally, the compressing function of the air-engine is automatically stoppedand the whole device thrown' out of action, by means, as follows Projecting downs war'dly from the seat-disk 24 is a tube 55, the upper end of'which opens into the lower 7 passage 3-1 of saidseat disk. At this point p is a relief valve 56, seen in Fig.3, which is held to its seat by a'spri'ng 57. The valve 56 has'a stem 58 which projects beyondthe tube. The annular. chamber 50, has a'po'rt 59 leading through the box 52 andjopening into an overlying valve controlled chamber 60. This chamber" opens to the outer air, and has its opening controlled, by a check valve'61, held to place by a'spring 62. The stem 63 of the-check valv'e projects f upwardly and is in line with the projecting lower end of the stem 58 ofvalve 56. When the pressure in tank" 1 exceeds; that determined upon, such excess will press down the relief valve 56, which'movement will, through the contact of the twdstenis 58 and 63, open the valve 61, whereupon the pressure behind the clutch diaphragm inf the passage 54 will bereleased, and the dia 1 10 phragm will drop away .from 'the clutch disk, thereby disconnecting the device from the automobile motor shaft.

The piston rods 15' are assembied about the crank 13 by means of the two rings 64 between which and the -crank the sector heads 65 of the piston rods are seated and 'in whichrings the rods play circumferentially, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, to accommodate the'revolution of the crank.

- By having three cylinders, the usual advantages of a more constant efiect are had,

and the device is better able to start the motor shaft. The general operation of the device is, in

/ I a brief, as follows: Assuming no air is in the tank 1, the operator, by hand, cranks his automobile motor, and, by hand, throws in the clutch to connect the shafts 6 and 12.

He also turns his controlling va1ve'25 to proper position, and thus the air-engine is started as a compressor, and air is supplied to the tank. When: this is'complete,

the operator stops his motor and disconne'cts the clutch by hand. When he desires tostart, he throws the valve to the other iposition', and the pressure fro-m the tank throws the clutch into action and operates the air-engine-as a motor with the effect of turning theshaft' 3 and starting the automobile motor; When the start is made, the

operator. throws the; valve 25 to its first position, and as the clutch is :still in force,

due to the trapped previous pressure, as

above describedvthe automobile motor now drives the air-engine as a compressor, and

thus fills up the tank 1 again. As soon, as

the required pressure in the tank isreached,

the trapped air pressure which holds the clutch in force is released, and. the clutch breaks thereby disconnecting the starting device, and leaving it in a condition for another use.

Having thus descrlbed my invention what 'I I claim as new and desire to secure by Let-' ters Patent is h 1. In an automobile starter, the combinationof a tank for air, an air engine comprising a casing, a cylinder pivo-tally mounted in a the casing, a piston and its rod and a crank directing the courses of the air through the shaft to.which the rod is connected, a clutch connection between-said air engine shaftand the shaft for the automobile motor, means for air engine to effect its action as a compressor driven by the ,automobi'lemotor to supply clutch "mechanism.

tion of an air tank, an air engine comprising an inclosing casing, a cylinder pivotally' the air tank, and as a motor driven by res: sure from the tank to turn the shaft-o the automobile motor, said means including passages in said casing and cylinder-controlled by the swinging of the cylinder, fluid pres- 2. In an automobile starter, thecombina-- mounted in the casing, a piston and its rod,

and a crank shaft to which the rod'is connected, said casing and said cylinder having "cooperatingpassages andports arranged for control by the swinging 'of thecylinderrelative to its casing under the crank action of its piston, and also arranged for the action of said piston under its driving crank, as a pump to compress air-into the tank, and as a motor to drive its crank shaft, a pipe con- 4 necting the air engine with the airtank, and a valve fitted to' the casing of the air engine and controlling the pipe to the air tank and also serving to direct the courses of the airthrough the passages and'portsof the air.

engine to effect the reversal'ofithe function 0f the piston, substantially as described. I

3. Inan automobile starter, the combination of an air-tank; anair-engine comprising a casing, a'cylinder pivotally mounted in the casing, a pistonand its rod, and a crank shaft to which the'rod is connected, said casing and said cylinder having passages and ports arranged for control by the swinging of the cylinderunder the crank action of it's piston, and'also arranged for the action of said piston under its driving.

crank, as a pump to compress air-into the tank, and as a motor to drive its crank shaft; a pipe connecting the air engine with the air 'tank; an;oscillatable-valvewithin the casing of the air engine adjacent said passages.

and ports and adapted to controlthe pipe to the air tank, said valve having ports and passages arranged to direct the courses of" the air through the-passages and ports of the air engine to eifect the reversal of the-func- I -tion of the piston as described; and a clutch connection between the shaft of the. air en'- .gine and theshaft of the automobilemotor. 4C; In an automobile starter, the combination of an air-tank;- an air-engine compris} ing a cas1ng,' a cylindei'f'pivotally mounted .in the casing, a piston and its rod, and a crank shaft to which the rodis connected, I

said casing and said cylinder. having passageS and ports arranged forcontrol by the i action of its piston, and also arranged for swinging of the 'cylinderunder the crank the action of said piston under its driving crank, as a pump. to compress airinto the tank, and, as a motor to drive its crank shaft; a pipe connecting the air engine with the air tank-j an-oscillatable valve within the ,casing -'of the air engine adjacent said pas- "sages and ports and adapted to control the fp'ipe to the'air tanlnsaid valve having ports and passages arranged to'direct thecourses- 'of the'air through thepassages and ports of the air engine to effect the reversal ofthe -Pfunct-ion'of the piston as described; a-clutch fconnection between the shaft of the'air en- ;gine andtheshaft of the automobile motor; .and pressure means under the control of said connection.'--

5. In an automobile starter,'- the combination of-an a1r-tank-; an alr-engine comprisalvefor'making and breakingsaid clutch *ing a. casing, a cylinder pivotally mounted:

in the casing, a piston and its-rod, and a crank shaft to ,which-therod is connected, i said casingand said cylinder having passages. and pbrtsarranged for control by the swinging of the cylinder under the crank Jaction of. its piston, and also arranged for the action of said piston under its driving crank, as a pump to compress. air into the tank, and as a motor to drive its crank shaft; a pipe connecting the air engine with the air tank; an oscillatabl'e valve fitted to the casing of the air engine and adapted to control the pipe to the air tank, said valve having ports andpassages arranged to direct the'courses of the'airthrough the passages and ports of the air engine to eflect there vers'al of the function of the-piston'as described a clutch connection between the shaft of the air engine and the shaft of the automobile motor; pressuremeans under the tion of an air'tank; an air-engine comprising control of said valve for establishing and maintaining the clutch connection during the operation of the piston in libtlrits func tions; and means. operated by excess of pressure in the tank-to release the pressure main-. taining the clutch connection 6. In an automobile 'starter, the combina a casing,- a plurality' of cylinders symmetrlcally radially disposed infcircular series andeach pivotally mounted in' the casing, a

piston for each cylinder, each pistonhaving a rod, anda'crank shaft to which the inner ends of the piston rods are connected, said casing-and said cylinders having a connected system of passages and ports ar ranged for controlby the swinging of the v cylinders under the crank action of their pistons, and also arranged for the action of said pistons, under their drivingcrank, asa

7 pump to compress air into the tank and as a motor to drive the crank shaft; 'apipe connecting the airy engine with the air tank; an oscillatable valve fitted to the casing of the airengine andadapted to control the pipe to the air tank, said valve having ports 'and',

passages. arranged to direct 'thecourses of the air through thepassages and ports of the airengine to effect the reversal of the function of the, piston as described; and a;

-' clutch connection betweenthe shaft of -the air engine and the shaft of the automobile motor.

7 In an automobile starter, the combination of an air tank; an air-engine comprising a casing,-a lurality of cylinders symmetrically radia 1y disposed. in circular serles andeach pivotally mounted in the casr I ing, a piston for each cylinder, each piston having a rod,and a crank shaft to which the inncrends of the piston rods are connected, sald casing and said cylinders having a connected system of passages. and

- action of its piston, and

the casing of the air engine and adapted to control, the pipe, to the air tank, said valve having ports and passages arranged to dimet the courses of the air through the passages and ports of the air engine to effect i the reversalof the function of the piston as described; a clutch connection between the shafteof the.air engine and the shaft of the automobileimotor; and pressuremeans un der the control of said yvalve for making and breaking said clutch connection. g

8. In an automobile starter, the combination'of an air tank, an air engine compris ing a casingfacylinder pivotally .mounted m the casing, p ndits rod; and fa I crank sh'aftto' whichthe rod is connected, said casing and said cylinder having 005perating passages and ports arranged for control by the swingingiof the cylinder un-- der the crank action of its piston, and also arranged forthe action of said piston under its driving crank, as a pumpto compress air into the tank, andas a motor to drive itscrank. shaft, and means for directing the courses of the air through the passages and ports of the air engineto eflr'ect the reversal of the functionof the-piston; substantially as described. 1

9. In an automobile starter, the combination of an air'tank, and air engine comprising a'casing, a plurality of cylinders symmetrically disposed incircular series and each pivotally mounted in the casing, a piston for each cylinder, each piston having a rod, and a crank shaft to which the inner ends ofthe'lpistonrods areconnected, said casing] and said cylinders having passages and ports arranged 'for" control by the swinging of the cylin'der under the crank the action of said piston underits'driving crank, as a pumpto compress air into the tank, and as a motor .1 to drive its crank shaft, a pipetonnecting the air engine with theair tank, an oscillating valve fitted to the casing, of the air engine and adapted-to con trol-the' pipe to the air tank, said valve havso arranged for r ingvpo rts and passages arranged'to' direct the coursesof the air through the passages and ports oftheair engine 'to e'lfect the reversal of the function of the pistonas described, a clutch connection between the shaft of the air'engine and the shaft of' the automobile motor, pressure means under the control of said valve for establish ng and maintaining the .clutch connection during the operation of the piston in both its func-, tions, andmeans operated by excess of pressure -1n the tank to release the pressure maintaining the clutch connection'g. 1 ,10. In .an automobile starter, the combination of an air tank, and air engine comprising a casing, a plurality of cylinders symmetricaily disposed 1ncircular series and each .pivotallymounted in the'casing so the automobile motor to supply the air tank as to have a rocking movement under the and asa motor driven byv pressure from the crank'a'ction of its plston; the cylindersand tank to turn the shaft of the automobile 15:

said casing having cooperatingports and motor.

' passages controlled by the rockingjmove I n testimony-whereof I have signed ment of said cylinders, a shaft of an'autoname to this specification in the presence of mobilezmotor, a connection-betWeen-the air two subscribing witnesses.

engine and the said shaft and a valve interposed between one of'said cylinders and the QLARENGE JOHNSTON casing and cooperating With said ports and i Witnesses: passages for directing the course of air to WM. F. Boom, I efiect its act-ion as a compressor ,driven'by e D. B. RICHARDS. 

